Gravity-motor.



G. S. WELLING.

GRAVITY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1911.

Patented May 21., 1912.

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A TTOH/VEY G. S. WBLLI'NG.

GRAVITY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1911.

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GRAVITY MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY-27, 1911.

Patented May 21', 1912.

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GREENWALDT STEFFIN WELLING, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

GRAVITY-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application led May 27, 1911. Serial No. 629,836.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GREENWALDT STEFFIN VVELLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Voodf bury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to motors or machines forthe generation of power, and par` ticularly to the kind operated by gravity.

The invention consists in general of a beam pivoted to an axis and adapted t0 be moved by the transfer of a weight alternately from one end of the beam to the other. The axis is moved in one direction by a clutch mechanism and the power transmitted from'the axis to the'machinery to be operated. The weight consists of a tape carried upon spool wheels pivoted at opposite ends of the beam and adapted to be wound and unwound from one spool to the other.

The invention further consists in the means employed for the transfer of the tape from end to end of the beam, the alternate engagement and release of the wheels carryn ing the tape, the means for holding and releasing the beam and in the transmission of the `power generated to the machinery to be operated. e

The object of the invention is the increase of momentum from an initial movement of comparatively small force and the utilization of the power produced for commercial and other purposes.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a view of my invention in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in end elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of one end of the beam on line A-B, Fig. 1, the guide and shields for retaining 'the tape being omitted. Fig. f1 is an inverted plan view showing an enlarged detail of levers, cords and connected parts for the operation of the clutches controlling the spool wheels, some of the parts being in section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of portion of sup porting frame, the balance wheel, pulleys 4and spur gears used in the operation of the machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of spool wheel for winding the tapena part of the wheel being broken away. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of screw shaft with spur gears, pulleys and rocking cam oper- `curved extensions 15 and 15a.

ated thereby. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a cross-section on line -y, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing an inverted plan of the rocking cam. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of means for holding the beam in a fixed position. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of one of the clutch wheels used in the operation of the main axis of the motor, the face of the outer wheel being removed showing a section of the rim, the inner wheel being integral with the arm fixed to the main axis.

Referring to the drawing, 11`is the beam and 1 are the legs supporting the machine on the crosssbars 2 'and 2a secured to the legs,

both being of angle iron. 'Ihe legs are held together by braces 3, 3a, 8b, 8c, and cross-bars 4 and 4a, on which part-s of the machinery aresupported. Between two of the legs supported by the brace 3 is a frame 5 supporting a shaft 6 to the outer end of which is attached a. crank 7. The part of the shaft inside the frame is a screw 8, to which is secured a spur gear 9 just within the frame 5. The opposite end of the screw terminates in a shaft 6a just outside the frame where the double belt pulleys 10 are secured. Parallel with the screw 8 is a similar screw 11 to which is secured a spur gear 12 meshing with and operated by the gear 9. Both screws are right hand screws, as will be hereinafter explained, and operate in suitable bearings in the frame 5. Below the screws and midway between them asmooth rod 13 is secured in the frame and on the rod is freely secured a triangular shaped rocking cam 14, adapted tormove on the rod and having curved projecting arms 14a and 14", to the opposite sides of which are secured The curved arms are threaded underneath as seen in Fig. 10, and are therefore adapted to follow the screws when held alternately against them. A coil spring 16 incloses a iiexible rod 17 secured to the top of the cam, the upper end of the rod being secured to a frame 18 which incloses the cam and rod and travels with them on therod A13. A pin 17L is secured to the t-op of the frame 18 and extends upward through the frame 5 and operates the lever which releases the beam,

as hereafter described. On each of the screws 8 and 11 near the opposite ends of the latter are secured stationary nuts 19 and 20 from which respectively project pins 19a and 20a. The screws both being right hand ones and turning in opposite directions by the action of the gears 9 and 12, the cam is carried in one direction by the screw 8 and in the opposite direction by the screw 11, as shown by the arrows, Fig. 8. As the cam nears the end of the screw 8 the extension 15 strikes the pin 19a, which raises the cam and throws it over and upon the screw 11 which carries the cam back to the opposite end where it strikes the pin 20, which in turn throws the cam upon the screw 8, and so on. The spring 16 meanwhile holds the cam in the position placed. As the cam moves inwardly, or toward the center of the machine, it strikes the bent lever 21 which releases the oscillating beam.

The main axis of the machine, 22, is carried in bearings 23 on cross-bars 2 and 2a. Near one end of the axis is secured the pulley 24 operated from the pulleys 10 by a belt 25. To one end of the shaft 6a is secured a sheave 26 connected to the sheave 27, which is free on the axis 22, by the belt 28. A larger sheave 29 is secured to the sheave 27 and is free on the axis 22 in the same manner. A belt 30 connects the sheave 29 with a smaller sheave 31, secured to and driving a shaft 32 supported in suitable bearings on the side pieces 33 and 33a of the oscillating beam, .which is freely supported in bearings 22"l on the axis 22. Secured to the shaft 32 inside the sheave 31 is a sprocketwheel 34 connecting with and operating a similar sprocket wheel 35 by a chain 36. The wheel 35 is secured to a shaft 36a supported in bearings on the side pieces 33 and 33a near one end of the walking beam. A spool wheel 37, Fig. 6, is free on the shaft 36a operating on ball bearings 38, and bears an outer rim or sheave 39 which carries the tape 41, and is freely secured to the rim proper of the wheel and supported on the rim of the wheel on bearings 40. The ball bearings reduce the friction and permit the wheel and rim to turn as freely as possible. A roller 42 freely secured in the cross-piece 43, connecting the side pieces of the beam, acts against the tape, and guides 41a and shields 42a supported by cross-pieces 43a, 58a and 73, retain the tape within the sheaves of the wheels. A friction clutch 44 slidably secured to the shaft 36L is held out of engagement with the tape wheel 37 by a compression coil spring 45 encircling the shaft and abutting against a ring 46 secured thereto. The clutch is held in engagement with the wheel by a fork lever 47 pivoted to a bar 48, which is secured to the side piece 33, near its center and attached at the outer end to a cord 49. The cord passes over pulleys 50 and 51 attached to the side pieces and is connected with and operated by the means controlling the tape wheel on the opposite end of the oscillating beam, as presently described. When the cord is taut the clutch is in engagement. It is held normally out of engagement by the spring 45. The other tape wheel 56 is operated from the shaft 32 by a sprocket wheel 52 secured thereto and operating a similar wheel 53 by a chain 54. The wheel 53 is secured to a shaft 55 operating in suitable bearings 55a, extending from the side pieces 33a, and 55b secured to the opposite side piece. The tape wheel 56 is also free on the shaft 55 and is similar' in all respects to the wheel 37. A roller 57 is pivoted to the cross-piece 58 connecting the ends of the side pieces and acts against the tape in the same manner as the roller 42. The central part of the shaft 55 is a screw 553 similar to and having the same function as the screw 8 shown in Fig. 8. The outer end is provided with a spur gear 58a meshing with a similar gear 59 secured to the outer end of a similar screw 60, supported in suit-able bearings in a frame 61 secured to the side piece 33a. A rod 62 is secured in the frame 61 parallel with the screws and has the same relation to them and the same function as the rod 13, bearing a similar cam 63, with curved projecting arms 64 and 65, threaded underneath and having extensions 66 and 67. The other parts of the cam not shown, the spring, rod, inclosingframe, and the pin 67 a, are the same as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and the cam is moved from engagement from one screw to another by projecting pins 68 and 69 secured respectively to the screws 55c and 60. The pin 67 a is adapted to move a lever 7 0 which controls the clutch 71 of the tape wheel, normally held in mesh by an expansion spring 72 abutting against the frame 61. The lever is pivoted at the lower end to a crosspiece 73 connecting the side pieces of the beam, and at the central part of the lever a coil compression spring 74 is secured thereto. rlhe opposite end of the spring is secured to the free end of an arm 75 to which the cord 49 is attached. The central part of the arm is pivoted to the free end of the curved bar 76, the opposite end of which is secured to the side piece 33a. The opposite end of the arm 75 is pivotally connected by a lug 77 to the slotted end of a fork lever 78 engaging the clutch 71, slidably secured to the shaft 55. The arm 78 is pivoted at the central part to a plate 61, secured to and projecting from the frame 61. To the central part of the bar 76 is pivoted the end of a lever 79 to the sides of which near the center are respectively attached rods 8O and 81. The opposite end of the rod 80 is secured to a T-shaped trip lever 82, one end of which is pivoted to a lug 83 Vsecured to the plate 61a. From thelever 82 projects an inwardly projecting hook 82a to catch and hold the end of the fork lever 78. The opposite end of the rod 81 is att-ached to an inclined trip lever 84, notched on the outer surface and adapted to receive and hold the lever 70. The trip 84 is pivoted to a lug 85 secured to the side piece 33a.

The parts last described are utilized in the control of the clutch 71 by the moving cam 63, and also the clutch 44 by means of the cord 49. When the cam 63 moves in the dii rection indicated by the arrow, the pin 67a will strike the free end of the lever 70, forc-y ing it to the left against the inclined surface of the trip 84 in the notch of which it is held. This pulls the spring 74 in the same direction, tightening the cord 49, forcing the clutch 44 into mesh and releasing the clutch 71 by the combined action of the levers 75 and 78. The tape wheel 37 is thus put in motion to wind up the tape from the wheel 56 which idles during the process. As the cam 63 moves in the opposite direction and nears the end of the screw the pin 67 a strikes the free end of thelever 79, turning the trip 84, releasing the lever 70 and permitting the spring 74 to contract and the spring 72 to expand. The movement forces the clutch 71 into engagement with the wheel and throws the slotted end of the lever 78 within the hook 82a where it is held until the cam travels back to the other end.

tape wheel 37 thrown out of gear, and thus the process is repeated. The face of the clutches may be covered with rubber to facilitate the grip of the clutch on the wheel and the tape is made preferably of steel for most of the length, but at the ends where secured to the wheels the tape should be of elastic material to overcome the sudden jar -on the wheels as the tape becomes completely unwound.

The beam is held stationary by means of the notched trip lever 86, pivoted near the center between lugs 86a secured to the crossbar 4. The trip is inclined on the upper side toward the notch in which the cr0ss pieces 43 and 58 are alternately held as they slide into the notch. They are released from the trip by the action of the cam 14 aga-inst the lever 21. The latter is pivoted at the lower end to lugs 37 securedr to the cross-bar 4a, and is formed integrally and at right angles with a bar 88 which is slotted at the opposite end and pivoted to a lug 89 at the end of a bar 90. The lat-ter is pivoted near the center to lugs 91 secured to the cross-bar 4. As the lever 21 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, the slotted end of the bar 88 and the lug end of the bar 90 are lowered, raising the free end of the latter and the free end of the trip, lowering the opposite end of the trip and permitting the cross-piece to go free. The opposite end of the trip is normally held up for cont-act with the cross-piece by an expansion spring 92 seated between the trip and the cross-bar 4.

The power generated by the beam is transmitted in the following manner: Secured to the axis 22 is a spur gear 93 which meshes with a similargear 94 secured to the shaft 95 which is pivoted in bearings secured to the side pieces 33 and 33a. Secured to the axis 22 and shaft 95 respectively are ratchet wheels 96 and 97, having an internal rim as seen in Fig. 12. The inside wheel 98 moves freely within the rim and has a hub 99 with side depressions 99a in which are freely inserted the rounded inner ends of the pawls 100. The wheel 98 is integral with the arm 101, secured to the cross-piece of the beam 1a, and moves as the beam rotates. The

`movement of the pawls is limited in one direction by the studs 98C between which and the pawls t-he springs 98b are adjusted. The free ends of the pawls are diagonal and engage the inner surface of the rim of the wheel 96 as the inner wheel moves. The clutch 97 and arm 102 are the same. As the beam moves in one direction the movement is communicated direct to the axis 22 by the ratchet wheel 96. As it moves in the opposite direction the movement is transmitted from the shaft 95 through the gears 94 and 93. The axis is thus kept revolving in the lsame direction while the beam is in motion. Meanwhile the cord 49 is loosened and the At the end of the axis 22 is secured a spur gear 103 which engages a similar gear 104 secured to a shaft 105 pivotally supported in bearings 231 and 23a on the crossbars 2a and 2", the latter being supported on legs 2'3 beside the legs 1. A balance wheel 106 is secured to the central part of the shaft 105 and pulleys 107 are secured near the outer end and adapted to furnish power by means of the belt 108 or other suitable means. The motor may thus be used for the operation of almost all kinds of stationery machinery heretofore ope-rated by other means. As power is applied to the crank 7 the motor will continue to generate momentum in the manner described and the tapes will be automatically thrown from one end of the beam to the other, the external power being merely for the transfer of the tapes. The beam being pivoted in the center has the effeet of a double lever as it rotates, with the weight of the tape added. As the beam rotates it will describe almost a complete circle, when the weighted end will drop and be caught by the trip 86. The latter being higher on the right side, as seen in Fig. 11, the cross-piece of the beam will pass freely from right to leftbut will be caught as it moves backward from left to right. The machine is so adjusted that the lever 21 will be moved by t-he cam 14 and the beam released from the trip 86 at the same time the winding of the tape on the upper spool wheel is completed, and the rotation of the beam given the full force of the weight of the tape each time the operation is completed.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A gravity motor consisting of a supporting frame, an axis pivotally supported thereon, a beam pivotally supported on the axis, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam with the axis for revolving the axis, spool wheels pivotally secured at each end of the beam, a flexible band adapted to be wound on said wheels, means for winding said band alternately on each of said wheels, and means for holding the beam in a fixed position as the band is wound and for releasing the same whenthe winding is completed, substantially as described.

Q. A gravity motor consisting of a supporting frame, an axis pivotally supported thereon, a beam pivoted on the axis, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam with t-he axis for revolving the axis as the beam oscillates, spool wheels pivotally secured at each end of the beam, a tape connecting the spool wheels and adapted to be wound alternately thereon, mechanism for winding the tape alternately on each of the spool wheels, means for holding the beam in a fixed position, mechanism for releasing the beam from the holding means when the tape is wound on the wheel at the elevated end of the beam, whereby the beam is caused to rotate and the axis revolved, substantially as described.

3. A gravity motor consisting of a beam, an axis on which the beam is centrally pivoted, a frame supporting the axis and beam, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam with the axis for revolving the axis, spool wheels pivotally supported at each end of the beam, clutches for the alternate engagement and release of the spool wheels, a tape connected to the spool wheels and adapted to be alternately Wound thereon, means for holding the beam in a fixed position and mechanism for releasing the beam from the holding means, and mechanism for controlling the clutches operating the spool Wheels whereby the spool wheels are alternately operated and the tape moved from the lower to the higher end of the beam and the beam rotated, substantially as described.

4. A gravity motor consisting of a beam, an axis on which the beam is centrally pivoted, a supporting frame, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam with the axis for revolving the axis as the beam oscillates, a spool wheel pivotally supported at each end of the beam, a tape mounted on said spool wheels, clutches for the engagement of the spool wheels, levers for the control of the clutches, a screw mechanism and a traveling cam thereon for the operation of the levers, means connecting the levers for the alternate engagement of the clutches with the spool wheels, whereby the tape is wound alternately on each of the spool wheels, means for holding the beam in a fixed position while the tape is wound and for releasing the beam, and means for the operation of the screw mechanism, substantially as described.

5. A gravity motor consisting of a beam, an axis on which the beam is centrally pivoted, a supporting frame, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam and the axis for revolving the axis as the beam oscillates, spool wheels pivoted at each end of the beam, a tape mounted on the spool wheels, means for winding the tape on each of the spool wheels alternately, a trip for holding the beam in a lixedposition, a lever for the release of said trip, a screw mechanism and a traveling cam thereon for the operation of said lever, and means for the operation of said screw mechanism, substantially as described.

6. A gravity motor consisting of a beam,

an axis on which the beam is centrally pivoted, a supporting frame, a clutch mechanism connecting the beam with the axis for the revolution of the axis, spool wheels pivoted at each end of the beam, a tape connecting the spool wheels and adapted to be wound thereon, clutches at each end of the beam for the operation of the spool wheels, a trip for holding the beam in a lixed position, a lever for the release of said trip, a double screw mechanism and a cam thereon adapted to follow the screws in opposite directions for the control of said lever, means for the operation of said screw mechanism, means connecting said screw mechanism with the clutches for the operation of the clutches alternately as the opposite end of the beam is held by the trip, and means for the operation of the screw mechanism, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I vhave hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GREENWALDT STEFFIN WELLING.

Witnesses:

H. C. GARDINER, J. S. NELSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZPatents, Washington, D. C. 

